Flexible loop jar cap wrench



April 3,1951

R. R. FREER V 2,547,743 FLEXIBLE LOOP JAR CAP WRENCH Filed Sept. 2, 1 948 INVENTOR.

Robert Freer ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 3, 1951 UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE FLEXIBLE LOOP JAR CAP WRENCH Robert R. Freer, Cleveland Heights, Ohio Application September 2, 1948, Serial No. 47,452

This invention relates to an adjustable screw cap remover. I

Heretofore, most of such devices in common use are characterized. by assemblies composed of numerous moving parts and involving several complex pivoting and linkage arrangements. Altho many of these designs are adjustable for various cap sizes, the rangevof such adjustment is usually quite limited. are often extremely difiicult to make. Furthermore, many of the screw cap removers are rendered unsatisfactory by the use of wires and bands as gripping or holding devices, which permit the cap to slip when clutched. This deficienc y is frequently the cause of damage to the jar or container on which the cap is located, as well as serious injury to the operator.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an adjustable screw cap remover, which has a wide range of adjustment, which can be quickly and easily effected. Another object is to provide an adjustable screw cap remover, which is adapted to securely grip the screw cap, so as to afford safe, but yet efficient operation.

.A further object is to provide an adjustable screw cap remover, composed of relatively few parts, some of which may be stock materials, such as chain and rivets and therefore can be cheaply and easily manufactured.

Other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of, the annexed drawing which, by way of a preferred example only, illustrates one embodiment of the invention and wherein: ,Fig. 1 is a plan view of the adjustable screw cap 'removershowing the relative positions of its'elernents when used to remove a cap of relatively large diameter. 7

. Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the device showing the relative positions of its elements when used to remove a cap of relatively small diameter.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the device, partially in section, taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an end view looking toward the work gripping portion and showing a fragment of the chain-used to embrace the work.

In general my adjustable screw. cap remover comprises a main body portion 5, consisting of lever members 6 and l, the former having a handle. portiohlifi and an arm portion, 9; and the latter, a handle .ortion it and an arm portion I; a pivotal mean 2; a gripping means M; a retaining means 36; and an adjusting means I8 associatedwith the arm portion 9.

Also, the adjustments 7 3 Claims. (on. si ns The lever members 6i. and l are preferably stamped from sheet metal stock, and aredesigned so as to provide the handle portions 8 and Ill with a slightly arcuate shape. The handle portions may be twisted, if desired, to provide a greater gripping surface.

The handle portion 8 is provided with a widened end portion I 9 from which the arm portion 9 extends laterally. The other handle portion Ill'is similarly provided with a widened end portion 2!] from which arm portion II is disposed laterally. The arm portions 9 and I I are preferably in ob tuse angular relation to their respective hand portions 8. and ID.

The arm portions 9 and II are provided with offset ends, 2| and 22 respectively, arranged so that when the widened. end portions I9 and 20 of the handle portionsv 8 and H respectively. are disposed in overlying relationship, the offset ends 2| and 22 will lie in the sameplane, as shown in Fig. 4;

The offset end 2! of the arm portion 9 is shaped to form a hook portion 23 at its outer end. The offset end 22 of the arm portion I! is provided with a slot 24 and an aperture or eye 25 adjacent its outer end.

The widened end portions l9 and 20 of the handle portions 8 and ID are provided at their center with apertures 26 and 21, respectively, as shown in Fig. 3.

The pivotal means l2 preferably consist of a standard rivet l3 the shank of which is disposed in apertures 26 and 21 of the widened end portions .19 and 20, respectively, with the offset heads in overlying relationship.

Thegripping means I4, preferably comprises a flat, disk-shaped member l5, which can be easily stamped from sheet metal stock. It is provided withian aperture 28 at approximately its center and with a pair of substantially arcuate surfaces 29 at its one "end. The surfaces 29 are disposed in an angular relation to each other, so as to form a substantially V-shaped groove 3|]. The

. surfaces 29 are each provided with a plurality of teeth 3|. The toothed member I5 is disposed. between the widened end portions I9 and 20, and is pivotally attached thereto by the rivet I3 the shank of which also extends thru the aperture 28. The pivotal movement of the toothed member I5 is restricted by the shoulders 32 and 33 of the offset ends 2| and 22,'respectively, of the arm portions, as is clearly shown 'in Fig. 4.

The retaining means I6 is preferably a, standard sashs type chain I! composed of a plurality of stamped steel links 34. The link 35 at one The adjusting means i8 is formed by the hook portion 23 and its relation withanyofthe links 34 of the chain member I'l, whereby, the apertures 31 in the links 34 are of a sizeso as to be effectively engaged by the hook portion 23, Thus, the diameter or size or" the loop 36 may be easily varied by connecting various links as of the chain member I! to the hook portion 23.

" To operate the adjustable screw cap remover,

the chain member 11' is wrapped, around the periphery of the screw cap of a container, and asuitable link 34 isengaged to the hook 23 of the offset end 21, soas to draw the links of the chain member into a substantially taut relationship.

As is shown in Fig. 1, it Will be noticed that when a relatively large cap i located within the loop 36 of the chainmember ll, only the outer teeth in the V-shaped groove 39 are utilized. However; when a relatively small screw cap. is so located, only the inner teeth in the groove are in engagement with the periphery of the cap, as is shown in Fig. 2.

. When the handle portions 8 and In are moved 1:

toward each other, the screw cap is" brought tightly against the teeth- 3! of the V-shaped groove 30, and is held in secure embrasure within the loop .36. A removal of "the screwcap from its container is thu possible by a rotation of the cap on the'container, and such is accomplished with a minimum of slippage.

It is to be noted that when the screw cap remover is rotated in a direction to remove a cap from a container, the loop 36 of the chain member H, the onset ends 21 and 22 and the toothed member l5,v are all in coplanar relationship. Therefore, the embracive force of the chain member is applied to the cap in the same plane along its periphery, resulting in a more effective utilization of the forces applied.

It should be further noted that the links 34 of the chain member 1'! are'disposed with their flat sides 38, as shown in Fig. 4, in contiguous relationship with the circumference of the screw tap; Witha stamped steel link chain, as preferably used, a greater contact area is afforded, which minimizes the possibility of slippage.

I claim:

1..An adjustablescrew cap remover comprising a pair of lever members each having a handle portion and an arm portion extending laterally from one end of saidhandle portion,

pivotal means connecting said lever members adjacent the juncture of said handle and arm portions, so that said arm portions extend laterally outward of said pivotal means in substantially opposite directions, a flexible member attached at itsone end to. one of said arm portions, adjustment means associated with said other arm. portion adaptedto engage said flexe ible member in a plurality of positions so as to form a loop, whereby said loop may be varied in size, and a flat disk disposed intermediate said arm portions and opposite to said loop, said disk having a pair of arcuately shaped toothed portions rigid therewith, said toothed portions disposed relative to each other to form a substantially V-shaped groove, whereby a screw cap placed within said loop may be drawn into said groove and secured therein when said handle portions are moved toward each other.

2. A screw cap remover comprising a pair of lever members each having a handle portion and an arm portion extending laterally from one end of said handle portion, said arm portions each having an ofiset portion adjacent the outer end thereof, pivotal means connecting said lever members adjacent the junctures of said handle and arm portions, so that said arm portions extend laterally outward of said pivotal means in substantially opposite directions and so that the offsetcportions of said arm portions are in coplanar relationship, a flexible member attached at its ends to said offset portions so as to form a loop, whereby said loop and said offset portions are in coplanar relationship, and gripping means disposed intermediate said arm portions adjacent said pivotal means, said gripping means attached to said pivotal means and prevented from rotational movement by the offset portions of saidarm portions, whereby a screw cap placed within the loop is drawn against said gripping means when said handle portions are moved toward each other;

3. A screw cap remover comprising a pair of lever members each having a handle portion and an arm portion extending laterally from one end of said handle portion, pivotal means connecting said lever members adjacent to junctures of said handle and. armportions, a flexible member attached at its ends to said arm portions so as to form a loop, and a flat disk disposed intermediate said arm portions and opposite to said loop, said disk having a pair of arcuately shaped toothed portions rigid therewith, said toothed portions disposed relative to each other to'form a substantially V-shaped groove, whereby a screw cap placed within said loop may be drawn into said groove and secured therein when said handle portions are moved toward each other.

ROBERT R. FREER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 696,659 Thomas Apr. 1, 698,492 Hart Apr. 29, 1902 861,342 Winter July 30, 190? 1,031,987 Domize July 9, 1912 1,050.16!) Price Jan. 14, 1913 1,410,390 Dudek Mar. 21, 1922 1,448,064 Haminann Mar. 13, 1923 1,456,126 Friday May 22, 1923 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 98,754 Switzerland Apr. 16, 1923 

